Life/Learning

My mum painted this

2010-08-10T15:24:00.003+01:00

hello mum

Hope for the Black Clericals?

2009-06-16T18:42:00.015+01:00

Sheena Matheiken decided to wear the same dull black "uniform" every day for a whole year. This was not an exercise in ennui, but a desire to promote sustainable fashion and to raise funds for the Akanksha Foundation. Of course, as Sheena is super cool and rather glamorous (well, at least on some days), her tunic didn't stay dull for long. With the help of friends, eBay, thrift stores and flea markets she accumulated enough hats and plumes, dickeys and drapes, shoes and slips, belts and brooches to give every day a different look. The Uniform Project reveals what she is wearing each day.

Now, as it happens, I know quite a few people who endlessly wear the same black uniform. Is there hope that, with the imaginative addition of doilies and ruffs, we too could become fashion icons? Send photos. A sumptuous prize awaits the designer of the best outfit based on the ubiquitous black clerical shirt.

via @freedomclothing

Enough Wedding Stuff Already

2009-06-15T21:21:00.006+01:00

John and I have wisely decided against a disco at our reception, and are consequently depriving our friends and family of the unalloyed joy of watching our first dance. But we know other (I need hardly say younger and fitter) couples who are getting married this summer. We are expecting great things of them:

The original is here.

The Noise Outside my Window

2009-06-15T18:55:00.013+01:00

If I start to hear easy listening covers of old Toto recordings mixed in with the storm then I will begin to suspect it is these guys, rather than a genuine meteorological effect. Whichever it is, it is terrifying my cats.

Geek Love

2009-06-14T06:40:00.010+01:00

With less than four weeks till the wedding, we have just entered that most difficult stage of negotiations - how much social networking is permitted on honeymoon? Despite the enormity of my my Twitter addiction, my best-beloved seems even less willing to step away from unlimited mobile web access for the duration. This may explain why, in one of those oh-so-accurate Facebook quizzes, we were both awarded a geek rating of "probably single". Perhaps I should buy him one of these fetching t-shirts. If you want one of your own they can be purchased from DespairWear. How fitting.

Gin and Titonic

2009-06-07T14:10:00.000+01:00

I was very sad to miss my niece's hen weekend (OK - I was never really up for the whole nautical/burlesque themed clubbing thing, but I was looking forward to meeting up with the girls and honoraries for shopping in Brighton).

However I was greatly cheered when my beloved sister sent me this tasteful ice cube tray to commiserate.

Ice ahoy!! Gin and Titonic is guaranteed to be an unsinkable addition to your next party of boat launch! Pair up the icy Titanic ships and menacing icebergs in your drinks and recreate history.

Now where did I put the limes...

A Prayer for those Newly Priested

2009-06-07T09:41:00.000+01:00

I have long been a fan of St Alcuin. This is his charge to his monks:

Be an honour to the church, follow Christ’s word, clear in thy task and careful in thy speech.
Be thine an open hand, a merry heart, Christ in thy mouth, life that all may know a lover of righteousness and compassion.
Let none come to thee and go sad away. Hope of the poor, and solace to the sad, go thou before God’s people to God’s realm, that those who follow thee may come to the stars.
Sow living seeds, words that are quick with life, that faith may be the harvest in their hearts. In word and in example let thy light shine in the black dark like the morning star.
Let not the wealth of the world nor its dominion flatter thee into silence as to truth, nor king, nor judge, yea, nor thy dearest friend muzzle thy lips from righteousness.

I was thinking of this as a prayer for those I know being ordained deacon or being priested this weekend. Grace and blessings to you all.

Meanwhile my other concern of the moment is what Christian blogging and tweeting might look like. The first line may be my answer: Be an honour to the church, follow Christ’s word, clear in thy task and careful in thy speech.

Why Christians Are Good for the Environment

2009-06-07T08:51:00.002+01:00

This article appeared in today’s Observer. It is nice to see the paper being reasonably complimentary about a Christian, if not the Church more generally. But as Christians we do not always deserve the compliment. I was stunned to hear Diana Lipton, talking about the judgement of Solomon, say that there are of course things about which we sacrifice our children for our own comfort. She cited the environment as an example. She may be right, but it is not comfortable to hear.

Maybe it is because I am tucked up in bed ill rather than out preaching for Trinity Sunday, but I am more than usually feeling that I just don’t do enough.